TOBACCO SMUGGLING

Early day motion 371, tabled 13 December 2004 by John Cummings (Labour). Signed by 28 members.

That this House notes with dismay that smuggling of tobacco products into the UK continues at such a seriously high level that 24 per cent. of cigarettes and 71 per cent. of hand-rolling tobacco smoked in the UK evades UK duty; further notes that the influx of illegal tobacco is threatening the jobs of workers in the British tobacco manufacturing industry, resulting in the average independent retailer losing almost ú1,000 per week in tobacco sales and depriving Her Majesty's Treasury of more than ú17.5 billion since 1995 in unpaid duties; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to accept that until UK tobacco tax levels are brought more into line with those of our European partners, smuggling-related crime will rise, more independent retailers will lose business and more jobs will be lost across the UK.

Signatures by party: Labour 19, Liberal Democrat 4, UUP 3, Conservative 1, Labour/Co-operative 1.